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Friday, December 5, 2008

After a rocky November, December started out on a much more positive note. On the first day of the month, I got a wonderful little note in my in box announcing that Nature’s Pentacle is a finalist in the 2009 EPPIE Competition. I’m still doing a happy dance over that one!

Here’s the blurb for Nature’s Pentacle, my paranormal witch ménage, available now from Loose Id :

After someone exposes their role in a forbidden, sexual rite to heal the parched earth, Matt and Lena are forced to flee vigilantes and a rogue witch. Drawn to each other despite Matt's ties to Kenji, the man who rescued him from a troubled past, they're swept into a ménage, and the three witches exchange magical traits in an explosion of power and passion.

As Matt and Lena face another pentacle rite, a violent kidnapping, and a magical duel, their attachment deepens--and so does Kenji's resentment at losing Matt. The addition of another witch to the group eases Kenji's jealousy, and sparks fly when the foursome mingles sex and magic on the kitchen floor, carrying them finally, to the love they never imagined they'd find.

And here’s a PG-13 rated excerpt to introduce you to Lena, Matt, and Kenji and give you a little taste of the story:

Perhaps sensing her distress, Matt crossed the room and touched her shoulder. “Not your fault, little witch.” Returning to the table, he scooped his violet glow from the bowl of oil and gestured for her to retrieve hers.

“Why?”

“I’m going to show you what you’re feeling isn’t anything you can control. I feel like I’m caught in the sun’s gravitational field, and I couldn’t break free of you if my life depended on it.”

Curious, she reached out and called her light globe to her hand, cupping her palm to receive the slight weight. “I don’t see what you--”

“Something happened during the rite--a connection between us. I think our magic got scrambled, tied together, and I want to test my theory.” The streak of mud across Matt’s shoulder and his tangled curls didn’t do anything to diminish his beauty. When he smiled at her, his amber brown eyes glowed with warmth.

“Okay, I’ll play. What next?”

“Toss your glow sphere in the air. If I’m wrong, it’ll just float back to your palm.”

Realizing he had no more idea what would happen than she did, she bit back a cheeky, “And if you’re right?” Instead, she tossed her blue orb at the same time he launched his. When the spheres spun toward each other she let out a surprised yelp. The lights crashed together, setting loose waves of force, sound, and shimmering color.

“Get down!”

At his warning, she plastered herself flat on the rough wooden floorboards. But rather than harming her, whatever magic they’d set loose caressed her body like a warm stream. Sheets of emerald, sapphire, ruby, and turquoise arched over them like the aurora borealis.

Helpless in the wake of the unexpected discharge of power, she tensed as the door opened a crack. She staggered to her feet, attempting to gather a protective shield. “Matt?”

“‘S okay. No one can cross the wards but me and Kenji. This is his place, and the magic guarding it is unbreakable.”

As if on cue, Kenji--looking no less intimidating than when he anchored the rite last night--stepped into the room and gaped at the light show. “Every witch in the country is in danger, and the two of you decide to play bedroom games with your power?”

Ignoring the continuing display, he clicked the door shut, strode across the room to the table, and set down two grocery bags and his cell phone. Lena’s first impulse was to grab the phone and call Serena, but she had to get something straight first.

“What do you mean, no one can get past the wards?” Bedraggled and exhausted, she drew herself up to her full five feet five inches and cloaked herself in a curtain of power. “Given the time and inclination, I could smash those wards.” She fixed Kenji with a brittle stare. “And what you walked in on was an exercise to test our combined magic--not some kinky game.”

“My apologies.” Six feet of wiry grace wrapped in a package of soft leather shoes, tan chinos, and a plum-colored shirt, Kenji bowed. The formality that would have seemed ludicrous coming from Matt seemed natural, if slightly mocking, coming from Kenji.

Suddenly, the fact that this was one of the three witches who’d drawn molten power through her last night, bleeding her dry as she trembled and wept, hit her with the force of a blow. Kenji couldn’t be much older than she was, and yet he’d earned a spot as one of the three anchors--alongside Sorren, the most powerful witch in North America.

Sweet Brighid, what had she gotten herself into? Taking a step back, she studied the lines and angles of Kenji’s face. The cinnamon mocha warmth of his skin softened his sculpted features, and thick lashes shaded his deep brown eyes. Black curls fell to his shoulders, covered with a sprinkling of rain. But for all his heart-stopping beauty, every movement, every mannerism, reeked of power.

When outmatched, bluff. “I need to borrow your phone.” Feigning confidence, she crossed the room to the table.

Matt, not Kenji, intervened. “You can’t. It’s not safe.” Closing the distance between them, he covered her hand with his own as she grasped the phone. “Your sister needs to be able to say she hasn’t heard from you--with 100 percent honesty. That’s the only thing that will guarantee her safety--and your mother’s.”

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Okay, I am so in love with the folks at Google for going here right now, I had to share...

We all send e-mail we regret. I mean, I know I can't possibly be the only person who has come home from having a few beers with the girls one night, kicked off my dancin' shoes and instead of crawling into bed like I should, find myself logged onto the lappie, typing what I think are witty, nay - genius e-mails that are in actuality ones I will most likely regret in the morning.

Well, regret no more...Gmail has developed a breathalyzer for your e-mail called, (I love this name) Mail Goggles. hehehe Yes, enable the Mail Goggles add-on feature from Gmail labs in your settings and never worry about sending a late night "I have a great new idea" memo to your editor, an "I miss you, let's get back together" plea to your ex, or a flaming message to someone on your loops, ever again!

How does it work? Well, after you have set the days of the week and times you will most likely need the Mail Goggles feature, should you then try to send a message during those times, a window will pop up, asking if you really want to send this e-mail? Should you choose to continue down the path of folly, it then has you attempt to solve five math questions (you set the difficulty level when you're sober.) See the example:

Now, if you fail to answer the math problems correctly in the given time frame of 60 seconds or so, a phrase like "Water and bed for you" or "Try again" will pop up. I assume the idea being that you'll get bored, fed up or pass out before you can figure out the problems. Knowing me and math, the second the screen popped up, I'd groan, draft the e-mail and go to bed.

That said, this feature would be most useful for me to utilize early in the morning, say before I've swilled down my third cup of coffee. LOL! What can I say? I'm just not a morning person. *grins*

So, whether you tend to drink & mail, or are (like me) cranky at 5am and meaner than you could be, think of giving Mail Goggles a try.

And while the times I'd use this feature would be few and far between, I'd still like to step up and say Thank you, Team Google for having my back. You guys think of everything and totally rock the casbah!

Okay bloggers, your turn...weigh in and let me know how many of you are already downloading this feature as I type...

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

I’m so excited it’s finally release day for Fighting the Undertow, now available from Loose Id! This book is an absolute favorite of mine. I loved every second of writing it! All through the writing process, I could hear Val and Ian’s voices in my head, and their sassy dialogue simply flowed onto the page.

I love the way their cheeky banter helps them face the darker elements of the story. I have a special spot in my heart for Ian’s brother’s ghost, and the way his story unfolds and affects those still living. And the ménages in this story--mmm yum. Like the dialogue between Val and Ian, those scenes poured out so fast they seemed to write themselves. I hope you enjoy reading Fighting the Undertow as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Blurb:

For Ian and Val, falling for each other is all too easy. But his sexy friends, her career goals, his writer's block, and a troubled spirit redefine the meaning of the words "complicated relationship." Val presses for information about Ian's brother’s ghost, but meets a wall of silence. When she discovers that Ian’s highly emotional, sexual connection with his friends was what held him together after his brother died, she's intrigued and frightened by the eroticism of their bond. Truly entering into his world will involve expanding her sexual experiences in ways she's never imagined.

For Ian, Val's willing to take that erotic journey. But when she uncovers secrets about his family, his brother's death, and the group's sexual history, she suspects she’s in way over her head. Confused by her new hungers, she’s overwhelmed by the searing passion of two emotionally charged ménages. Although the friends have become the family she always wanted, she's not sure whether she's ready to accept Ian's world of complex relationships and dark passions, or whether she and Ian have even a ghost of a chance at happiness.

R-rated Excerpt:

For Christ’s sake, he hadn’t been this nervous since his junior prom. As he lit the candles, Ian ran through a list of things that could go wrong. Maybe she’d ask what the hell was up with him and his friends, and since he was an honest guy, she’d run screaming from the house when he answered. There was always the chance for ordinary disasters, like dumping eggplant parmigiana in her lap while he served dinner. Or Abby and Tyler could get back early from their evening out and scare her off.

At least Jeremy and Nathan lived close enough to visit without sleeping over. Better yet, Abby and Tyler would be heading back to Boston when their vacation ended in a few days. After that, they’d just be around on weekends. Hell, he’d known Val one day, and already his loyalty to his friends was evaporating. These were the people who’d kept him sane when Lisa walked out, who’d been there for him when Kevin… He stopped that line of thought before it ended up somewhere dark and painful.

Before he could subject his attraction to Val to further scrutiny, he heard a confident rap on the door. “Come in.” He slipped a bottle of wine into the ice bucket, wiped his hands on a dish towel, and went to meet her.

“Hey. Something smells good.” Val gave him a quick hug.

“I hope you don’t mind eating here.” At her inquisitive glance toward the kitchen, he rushed to reassure her. “Tyler helped me with dinner, so it will be edible.”

He continued talking as he busied himself in the kitchen. “Tyler and Abby are out for the evening, and Nathan and Jeremy drove home a while ago.” Her shoulders relaxed. A good sign, she wanted to be alone with him. Or maybe a bad sign, she was wary of his friends.

Somehow, he managed to get dinner on the table without any disasters. Though entertaining a sexy woman felt sort of strange. He hadn’t cooked for anyone other than his friends since Lisa left. As they talked, he reminded himself of his priorities. Write the damn book. No new attachments until I can think about Lisa without my gut twisting into a knot.

As for his attraction to Val, that could be a pleasant distraction. Just because he wanted to reach out and touch her face when her cheek dimpled with laughter didn’t mean he had to get involved. She didn’t want that any more than he did.

All of that seemed rational, until they finished dessert. The next thing he knew, his arms were wrapped around her waist, though he wasn’t sure who’d initiated the embrace. As he explored her mouth with his tongue, sweet with dessert and tart with a hint of wine, the pounding of the ocean clouded his thoughts. He broke away long enough to close the windows. Then, before he could think of a good reason not to, he invited her upstairs.

“Ian, I…” If she’d been about to voice second thoughts, he drowned her words with another kiss. When they reached his room, she threw open the window, inviting in the crash of the waves.

Neither of them bothered to turn on a light. In the moonlight, she looked even sexier than she did with the waves playing at her skin.

“You’re sure you want this?” Damn it, Winters, what if she says no?

“Mmm hmm. Just a formality, but my roommate would kill me if I didn’t ask…”

“Yes, I’ve engaged in risky behaviors. Yes, I’ve always used a condom. Yes, I’ve been tested, and I’m fine.” He held his breath, waiting to see if she’d ask for specifics. He’d tell her, but he didn’t know if she was up to hearing the details yet.

“Me too. Well, except for the risky behaviors part.” Val tugged at the clip that held her hair back from her face. As thick curls spread across her shoulders, she found his lips and nipped hard enough to elicit a grunt of surprise.

When she moved toward the bed, Ian was relieved not to have to navigate that particular transition. “Miss Vee?”

“Yes, Mr. Winters?” Laughing at the feigned formality, she tugged him down beside her, sinking into the down comforter.

“I was wondering something yesterday, and maybe you could help me come up with an answer.” Teasing his hands over her shoulders and neck, he brought them to rest in the silky curls that spread out around her head on the pillow.

“Yes?”

“When we were walking on the beach, the wind blew your curls around your face and…” He paused to tug at a few tendrils of hair, shining reddish brown in the moonlight. “I wondered if you might be that wild, that free…”

“In bed?” Without embarrassment, she finished the question.

Ian nodded.

“With you, I think maybe I could be.”

That was all he needed to know. She wouldn’t run blushing if he forgot himself and took things too far. But she wasn’t Lisa, either. Lisa had used him for the sex, for his friends, for the excitement of the forbidden. But he’d been so in love, he’d been blind to her motives, expecting nothing less than the honesty he’d offered her.

As Val slipped her fingers under his shirt, he pushed aside the past and focused his attention on her. What frightened him wasn’t how much he wanted her -- though he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this hot and bothered for someone -- it was how much he wanted to be with her. To fall asleep with his head beside hers on the pillow, to see what those crazy, wonderful curls looked like in the morning…

“Ian?” She tugged his shirt over his head and paused with her fingers on the button above his fly.

Ian slid his hands under her shirt and unhooked her bra, and soon they sat naked in the moonlight. He leaned over and grabbed two silk scarves from a drawer in the bedside table. Val’s shoulders tensed under his hands, but as he trailed the silk over her skin, she relaxed.

“Okay?”

“Yes.” As the silk brushed across her nipples, she made a soft sound of approval.

His balls were making a concerted effort to crawl up under his skin, and he hadn’t ached for anyone like this since high school, but he forced himself to go slow. Seeing as he wanted to avoid attachments, he shouldn’t be so afraid of scaring her away. But he’d reason that out later. For now, their bodies told him what he needed to know. The way she arched into his embrace. The shivers of fire that raced across his skin when she touched him.

“No.” He moved her hand away from his cock and eased her down onto the mattress. Not that he objected to the heat that followed the path of her fingertips along his dick. But he wanted this to last until morning. God help him, he wanted to pull her close and watch her sleep as the sun rose.

Val flinched as he draped a scarf across her eyes, but when he left it loose, she settled back onto the pillow and explored his body with her fingers. She stroked his hair while he sucked one nipple, then the next, and when he tried to sit up, she locked her hands behind his neck and guided his mouth to hers.

He could tell by the way she nipped at his neck and jaw, by the way she tried to shift to her side when he rested his weight on her, that she wanted to take control. And he had no doubt she could. In fact, he looked forward to the night it would happen. But he wanted something else tonight. She protested when he knotted the scarf at the back of her head, but didn’t try to tug it away from her face.

“Okay?” A few heartbeats of silence greeted the question, and he soothed his hands along her arms as he waited.

“I think so.”

Not wanting to spook her, he waited to see what she’d do next. Reaching out to find his face, she shifted onto her side and pressed her mouth to his. The heat of her kisses, the probing insistence of her tongue in his mouth, nearly pushed him beyond the thin shred of control he had left.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Halloween is my favorite holiday, which is probably why my paranormal erotic romances are full of witches and ghosts galore. I love the potential for passion like no mortal could know it, the magic, and the spooky quality of the otherworld. Since Halloween is coming up fast, I wanted to share a little bit about each of my spooky, magical books. All of them are available at Loose Id.

Fighting the UndertowComing November 4 from Loose Id!!!

/p>

My most recent novel, Fighting the Undertow, is coming November 4th from Loose Id, so the spirit of Halloween doesn’t have to end right after the 31st! In Undertow, Val and Ian struggle to come to terms with a troubled ghost and the secrets of Ian’s past. Oh--and of course, Ian’s group of too-sexy-for-their-own-good friends complicate the romance in kinky and delightful ways.

Blurb: When the New England riptide sweeps Val into Ian’s path, she’s pulled into the vortex of passion he shares with his friends. But as Ian struggles with the ghosts of his past -- literally -- Val’s not sure there’s a place for her in his sexy, turbulent world.

Strange SabbatsAvailable Now

A prequel to Nature’s Pentacle, this novella is set in the same world as my Pentacle Series, but stands alone. Because it takes place before the action in the other books in the series, the tone is lighter and more playful. These witches aren’t battling the forces of darkness; they’re struggling to sort out love lives vastly complicated by magic, power, and witches’ intense passion.

Blurb: For Aileen, Bryan, and Sylvie, three witches related by blood and common circumstances, finding the men of their dreams is a supernatural ride through love, jealousy, kink with a touch of magic, and fierce, red hot sex.

Nature’s PentacleAvailable Now

Nature’s Pentacle is the first book in my Pentacle Series, and you won’t want to miss the passionate magic these witches brew up! Lena and Matt meet at a forbidden sexual rite, and when crazed vigilantes and a vicious villain set them on a headlong path with disaster, they cling to each other for love and support. But Matt’s former love interest, Kenji, refuses to bow out of the picture.

Blurb: When witches use sexual energy in a rite to mend the shattered environment, the forces set in motion carry them into a vortex of loss, a sizzling ménage, and finally, to the love they never imagined they’d find.

Broken PentacleAvailable Now

Broken Pentacle is the second book in my Pentacle Series, and can be read as a stand-alone novel. This one is by far my darkest story, and the villain produces some hair-raising scenes for a truly supernatural Halloween season. Sky and Alec are two of my favorite characters because they’ve made mistakes, have been hurt horribly in the past, and they do a phenomenal amount of healing together. The magic they kick up with Zach, a no nonsense ex-cop who turns their twosome into a threesome, is both touching and deeply emotional--and wildly erotic.

Blurb: A brutal attack left Sky wounded body and spirit. Her body's recovered but her soul and her magic need healing before she can face her ex. The cure lies in sexual bonding with another witch. She's not expecting two.

Again, all of these are available at Loose Id, although you'll have to wait till November 4th for Fighting the Undertow. May your Halloween be full of chills, thrills, and red hot romance!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Blurb: The best mistake she ever made…
Tessa Brooks is dated. Not dated as in going out with men—having dinner and light conversation in poorly lit restaurants in hopes of finding someone with whom she can get naked. No, Tessa is dated. And the year she seems stuck in is 1988. The year her life changed.
With her twenty-year high school reunion coming up, Tessa’s daughter has surprised her with a makeover on the Jade Star television talk show. However, that’s not the only surprise. Enter Matt Toler, the best mistake she ever made. Tessa might not feel a ribbon of panic tightening around her neck if Matt had spoken to her again after their one-night sexual encounter…and if knew he had a daughter.

What is your wildest fantasy about getting a tattoo? A night out on the town with a friend ends up bringing Serene to a tattoo parlor. There she discovers a tattoo that takes a hold of her. Something about it calls to her. Body art can bring pleasure to its owner but this tattoo brings more pleasure then Serena ever imagined.Will Serena’s tattoo give her more pleasure than she could imagine or will it be a fleeting moment of pleasure after the pain?

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

I’m doing the release day happy dance today, because Broken Pentacle, my multicultural witch paranormal ménage, is now available at Loose Id. This book continues my Pentacle Series, following Nature’s Pentacle, and can also be read as a stand alone.

Here’s the blurb: A brutal attack left Sky wounded, body and spirit. Her body's recovered but her soul and her magic need healing before she can face her ex. The cure lies in sexual bonding with another witch. She's not expecting two.

I’m pleased with how my book trailer turned out for Broken Pentacle, and I’d love for you to check it out! Click here. If you’re curious about my earlier Pentacle novel, here’s a link for the book trailer to Nature’s Pentacle. Click here.

Sky and Alec wrapped their way around my heart in a stranglehold because they’d been hurt, had made mistakes, and had such fierce determination to get things right this time. And Zach, oh wow, that sexy ex-cop, kick-ass-witch of a bodyguard with a hawk tattoo on his shoulder and attitude to spare brought so much passion to the triad of witches that he took my breath away.

Here’s a taste of what’s ahead when you pick up a copy of Broken Pentacle:

Alec moved from the chair to the end of the bed, careful not to crowd her but obviously seeking contact. With a shaky breath, Sky reached out and touched his hand. Although her shields held at full force, thoughts and images leaped across at the contact. Mostly she saw fragments from the time he’d spent convalescing in Sweden. Go figure. The senator managed to end up at a mountain resort, and she got a year with a bunch of goats in Mexico. Guess it was a fitting punishment.

When Alec winced, she knew he’d picked up that last bit. Whatever fragile connection stretched between them, her psychic abilities latched onto the link and refused to let go.

“Senator Kouklakis died -- I got a new identity to go with the Swedish vacation. Alec Brennan, eccentric drifter.”

“You miss it? Political life?” Images of him wheeling and dealing on the Senate floor flooded her head. Of course he missed it. “Hey, I’ve got my shields up a mile high. Stay out of my head.”

“Not trying to get in it. I’m shielded, too.” He hesitated, then reached up to push a mass of wavy brown hair away from his face. “And I miss politics less than I thought. What’s happening now, dealing with Jaimis, this is more important.”

Sky watched in fascination as he worried strands of hair between his thumb and forefinger. With his hair wild around his shoulders, he looked fierce and untamed. Golden skin stretched across lean, runner’s muscles, interrupted only by his jade green boxer shorts.

Those first few weeks they’d spent healing at Sorren’s estate, Alec had clung to the trappings of civilization, wrapping himself in designer suits, regardless of his raw back and battered psyche. But gone were the two-hundred-dollar haircut, blond highlights, and butter-soft shoes that probably cost more than her house. Strike that -- her former house, long since consigned to ashes by a bunch of anti-witch vigilantes.

“The wild man image suits you.” Despite herself, she inched closer, drawn by the musky male scent mingled with traces of soap and shampoo. She hesitated, then rested her palm over his wrist. A riot of heat rose from her belly and spread upward toward her breasts.

“I missed you, after Sorren moved us out of the country to safer ground.” Something about him plucked an emotional chord deep inside her.

The man was almost old enough to be her father -- never mind the deceptive youthfulness characteristic of witches. Hell, she was closer in age to his son, Matt, than she was to Alec. And yet, the pull between them was unmistakable.

Feeling vulnerable in the face of emotions she couldn’t understand, Sky wrapped the terrycloth robe tighter around her, a thin shield between her and disappointment. Alec regarded her, his clear, brown eyes flecked with amber, and when the silence stretched between them, she looked down at her legs crossed yoga-style on the blue bedspread.

“Your hair’s longer. I like it that way, like a black waterfall down your back.” Alec swallowed audibly. “You don’t wear it long to hide -- I mean, you don’t still have…”

The pain in his voice spurred her into action. “No. Here, see?” She untied the loosely knotted belt of her borrowed robe, let the folds of terrycloth drop around her waist, turned, and lifted her hair clear of her back. “The witch healers did their jobs well.”

Bending forward, she let him study the unmarred expanse of skin. She shivered when he trailed his fingers along her spine and explored smooth flesh where she knew he remembered a mess of healing lacerations. Relaxing under his gentle exploration, she let her face rest on her arms and enjoyed the liquid fire that followed his touch along her skin.

“Only one lash was too deep to erase the scar.” Never mind the million scars on the inside. She sat up and lifted the soft terrycloth clear of her left thigh, guiding Alec’s hand over the crescent moon-shaped scar no longer than her thumb.

“Mine’s here.” Alec eased the boxers down on his right side, revealing a jagged scar a hand span long across his hip. “The rest healed clean.”

Without thinking, Sky bent down and kissed the tip of the puckered flesh, then trailed a row of kisses along the length of the scar. Startled, she felt Alec claw his way into her head again, hungry and amazed at her casual acceptance of the ugly mark.

“What Jaimis did to us, the way he tied our fates together, it’s like he was some sort of dark artist…” Alec’s breath came in short gasps as Sky kissed her way along the length of the raised line of tissue again. “And after a point, he’d shed so much of our blood that it was like mixing paint, blending the colors until he left some of each of us with the other.”

Fuck. Damned if she’d let him see her cry. “Those six weeks when we were too sick to travel, you could always think of something to make me laugh through the pain.”

She left the rest unsaid. And you were the only one who could help me cry.

“That’s what you want? To cry? Or to laugh?” Alec helped her sit up beside him, cradling her chin in his palm, and she leaned forward, seeking a kiss, a caress, anything to ease the thirst she had for him. “Because whatever we do here tonight, I need to understand what you need.”

Friday, July 25, 2008

I haven't blogged here in awhile and actually was going to do another "Crazy crap people send me links to" post, much like my Rent-a-Dildo one a few months back. But, I have news so it will have to wait until next time. (Don't worry, I won't forget.)

Anyway, back to the blog and my news. I got "The Call" this week!! I sold my dark paranormal dragon-shifter story, DRAGON FIRE to Harlequin Silhouette Nocturne! Woot!!

Okay, I suppose I have to set up the steps before the call, so you can understand how the sale came to be.

June 2007 –
It’s conference weekend for our local WisRWA chapter and for the first time we have a silent auction. I noticed Tara - the senior editor's - name right away and instantly put my name down and something ludicrously cheap, like $8. Over the course of the day, I noticed I kept being outbid – by Lori Devoti - a Nocturne author! After a brief fight...err, polite discussion, she took her name out of the bidding and I ended up winning the first chapter critique for $25 (again, insanely cheap - I was shocked!)

I quickly polished up the chapter of my dragon-shifter romance I’d been fiddling with and sent it off, excited to finally have the opportunity for an New York editors comments and critique.

December 2007 –
Tara e-mailed me to let me know she had read the first chapter. and liked it. She said she didn't have dragons yet at Nocturne and was intrigued by the idea. So, instead of receiving a packet back in the mail with the pages all marked up and bloodied from her pen, she sent me a few things she wanted me to think about, perhaps change, asked me to write a prologue and to see a partial. That weekend, I wrote and trashed about six prologues before settling on one. I busted out a synopsis (I had hand written it in a notebook, but hadn’t typed it in submission ready form yet) and e-mailed it to her on Monday.

February 2008 –
When I saw an e-mail from her in my Inbox this time, I almost didn’t open it. I had to call my cp and have her talk me through it – no joke! I was so used to “thanks, but no thanks” I was sure I dropped the ball somewhere along the way , positive the synopsis had so many plot holes and clichédstorylines that a rejection was waiting for me.

Well, my cp was right all along (the supportive and smart wench that she is) – it was a good story and yes, Tara liked it too. She asked for a few tweaks off the synopsis and requested the full. This was the closest I’d ever been and I didn’t want to mess it up. So, I spent 6 weeks, finishing, tweaking, making her changes, editing and tweaking some more. My goal was to send her the full in March and I succeeded.

June 2008 –
Tara e-mailed to let me know she had the book with her and was going to read it asap and get back to me by the end of the week. Two weeks later...

July 2008 –
...It was 9:30-ish in the morning. I know because I had to leave work for a bit to pick my son up at Kindergarten summer program. After dropping him at home (where yes, he has someone watching him) I drove back to work. As I pulled into the parking lot of the gym, my cell phone rang. Seeing how it was a Monday, (a typically hectic Monday) and it had been two weeks of tensing at every phone call, I didn’t think anything as I picked it up. The caller ID said area code 212, which I knew from previous research was New York. Then I glanced up and the actual ID said “New York.” I took a deep breath and answered. Tara was on the line. Her voice was nothing like I expected - no NY accent, just smooth, eloquent and friendly. She immediately set me at ease and I think the first thing I said was "It's so nice to finally hear your voice!" I walked into the club and immediately pointed to the phone at my ear and mouthed "New York" to my boss.

Seeing how gyms are not the quietest place on earth, I went into the thankfully empty children’s playroom so I could hear her. We chatted for what felt like forever before she finally said, "I had a chance to read your book and I loved it. I would like to make an offer to buy it." I'm pretty sure I squealed, said OMG a couple times, thank you a dozen more. I wrote everything down and asked her a few questions. There are a lot of Harlequin authors in my local chapter, so I was pretty confident about saying yes to the offer over the phone. Actually, I think she had to ask me twice – something like, "So do you think the offer sounds good?" I laughed and said "Of course! I would be honored to accept it."

I sat down at the small kiddy drawing table (with my knees tucked to my chest) and we spoke for about a half hour about some revisions she wanted and following books in the series. When the call ended, I swore I could have bench pressed 500 pounds I was so excited! A few of our members who know I write, congratulated me and I spent the rest of my Monday with a huge smile on my face. :-) And the crazy thought that kept slipping through my mind was I basically bought a New York contract for $25. LOL! I mean, not really, but yeah...thank you Lori for not outbidding me! ;-)

If you'd like to learn more about Book 1 in this new series, friend and fellow Nocturne author, Lori Devoti interviewed me about DRAGON FIRE. It's posted over at Shape Shifter Romance.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

A post by another writer has stirred some thought in me. She was asking why we slave away at something that’s sometimes derided by others and often doesn’t provide a living wage. She expressed a lot of turmoil about continuing to write when it uses so much of our time, effort and resources. In essence, her true question was - why bother?

This question plagued me for a long time and I couldn’t put my finger on why until today. The answer hit me as I was slaving away at my 9 to 5.

We bother because we WANT to.

Why do we have to justify something that brings us so much joy and comraderie? Especially when it causes no harm. No one questions men about why they spend so much time on their hobbies. My husband just bought $300 worth of new golf clubs. No one asked him to justify why he enjoys hitting tiny balls across the equivalent of a massive backyard. (O-kay, maybe I have asked why he has to spend quite so much a time or two…)

I also find it amusing that the same people who put down others are usually boring couch potatoes. Maybe it’s jealousy that they don’t have the guts to go after what they want or maybe it’s just plain meanness, but these are NOT people qualified to judge anyone else.

If you’re struggling to make any dream come true, whether you want to write, paint or sing on freaking Broadway – GO FOR IT. The world is so much better to live in when we’re doing the things we love. And anyone who doesn’t get that needs to go back to their couch and continue watching all the bad reality TV that’s on.

snippet: The one thing I look for in a vampire romance is a good bite scene and Kyann Waters knows how to deliver the goods. "Hot Blooded" is sensual, seductive and contains a surprise at the end that simply made me smile in delight. Actually, I think I said, “Cool!” ....

Ms. Waters knows the proper way to write a vampire bite for full sexual impact, how to save a tortured hero and how to give a reader a refreshing, exciting and unique HEA. It’s all wrapped up in a short story aimed at the best of what vampire romances are known for -- a happily ever after you can sink your teeth into.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

I’m a big believer in love. I don’t tend to think in categories, but rather individuals. How do these two people love each other, and what are the obstacles to their love? So I’ve written all sorts of romantic combinations. One of the three relationships in Strange Sabbats, available now from Loose Id, is between an older woman and younger man.

I never heard the term “cougar” used to refer to a relationship between an older woman and younger man until last year, and I’ve been curious about its origins. I’m suspicious about labeling relationships with terms simply because they fall outside “norms” defined by “mainstream society.” Love is--simply and beyond labeling--love.

I’m especially suspicious when a woman is described in animal terms. Chick, barracuda, pet, kitten, playboy bunny, etc. Of course, a negative term always presents the opportunity for reclaiming, similar to the way the gay and lesbian community has embraced the word “queer” in an empowering manner.

Women now speak enthusiastically about “chick-lit” and “chick flicks” as a reflection of power to sway the entertainment industry. Look--there’s this whole genre out there driven by our wants and needs! I’m still a bit wary of the word “chick,” being just old enough to have experienced it in its raw form. But I think reclaiming uncomplimentary words is great. Go women!

Still, before reclaiming a term, it’s important to understand where it comes from. In my online research, Wikipedia gave a basic definition of the slang term “cougar,” and listed TV shows and movies which have used the term, but didn’t go into origins.

So I searched some more, and came up with an article by a lexicographer (someone who puts together and edits dictionaries). In his article, “Time for a Cougar,”click here for article, Grant Barrett writes, “In slang use…“cougar” is a term for an older woman who prefers to date younger men. There’s a connotation there of a wily, experienced feline going after a toothsome little rabbit.”

That about sums up my initial impressions of the word. When women acquire animal descriptions, we’re invariably cast as either predators (“barracuda”) or prey (“bunny”). “Cougar” falls into the predator category.

As for the origin’s of the slang term, Mr. Barrett writes:

“I found a March 3, 2001, article in the Globe and Mail of Toronto which credits “cougar” to a Canadian website called Cougardate.com, which the story says was started in 1999. It is, as you have guessed, a website where older women can meet younger men.

“The story given in that article is that one of the two women who founded the website was told by a nephew that the two ladies were like cougars in search of small defenceless animals. The nephew said he picked up the term from players on his hockey team. So, 1999 is the earliest probable date we have for the term and it’s fairly reliable.”

What’s interesting here is that, assuming the account is accurate, though the term was originally credited to male teen hockey players who used it in an uncomplimentary fashion, the reclaiming of the term by women occurred almost immediately. The male teens spoke of predators “in search of small defenseless animals.” But the women starting the dating website must have been thinking something to the effect of, “Hey, we’re cougars, and we’re powerful, and we’re proud!”

Again, go women! As with “chick lit,” the industry has picked up on what women want, and e-publishers are starting to contract more older women/younger man (ow/ym) stories. I’m a big believer in love--all sorts of love--so I think this is awesome. The term “cougar” may leave me with an uncomfortable aftertaste, but I’m all for the sub-genre.

What about all of you, do you enjoy a spicy older woman/younger man story? Do you prefer the term “cougar” or the older woman/younger man designation? Know any happy real life couples where the woman’s older and wiser?

Monday, June 16, 2008

Determined to keep their sex life red hot, Paige plans a birthday surprise for Adam—his hottest fantasy come to life. But when she initiates a ménage with their friend, Lynne, she's unprepared for the emotional intensity of the experience.

The Ones We Love

Sarah struggles with her inhibitions as she prepares for a bacchanalian evening at her friends’ beach house. Within her close-knit circle of friends, the web of love and loyalties can get a bit—tangled.

Friday, June 6, 2008

It’s hot as hell in Southern California, and Kelis LeBrun is having a bitch of a time keeping his focus and his fangs off the delicious looking Ms. Loni Soleil. Perhaps if it weren’t so bloody hot, he’d be able to stave off the hunger pangs. But the only way to do that is hot, sweaty sex…something he’d swore he’d never have with Loni. He couldn’t let her know he was a 300 year old vampire.

However, when they become trapped on an elevator during a rolling blackout Kelis discovers Loni has a few secrets of her own.

Excerpt:

Two-hours. Fuck. He'd never last. Heat, from Loni and from the confined space, already had him apprehensive on his ability to withstand her lure. His teeth ached and his cock throbbed. He put his hand over Loni's. "Are you afraid?" She should be. He had only one way to stave off the hunger pains.

Sex.

She stepped closer, and his fingers trailed up her arms. "I'm not afraid," she said. "As long as I know I'm not alone...that you're here with me."

He inhaled sharply. "You don't want to be alone with me," he whispered with his jaw clenched. "Not now." He gripped her shoulders, attempting to set her apart.

She clutched his arms. Her heart rate spiked. Blood rushed through her veins like a raging river, calling to him with the promise of eternal life. A lonely life for him. Even though he desired this woman, he would never subject her to an existence like his. He could make love to her—god forbid, feed from her—but he would never change her.

"But that's what I wanted to discuss with you." She rested a hand on his hip, and his cock jumped, engorged and throbbing.

He jerked his hands to his sides. "Loni, there areaspects about me you don't understand."

She trailed fingers up his torso. He hissed a breath through his teeth. Neither could see in the blackness, but he had a perfect image in his mind. He knew her blue eyes, like sunbursts, were focused on him.

He clenched his hands into fists to keep from touching her again. The temperature in the elevator climbed higher. "It's hot in here."

"Yes," she whispered.

He tuned into the rustle of clothing. Sweet hell, she was removing her sweater. It was going to get hotter.

She tugged on his shirttails.

"Loni?"

"Two hours can be a long time."

A lifetime. Hers if she didn't cease touching, talking, tempting him. "Don't." He gripped her hand, stilling her movements. "Loni, we can't."

Thursday, June 5, 2008

I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to come and party with me and many amazing authors. This week we have an author corner with Liadan Brodie on June 6, 2008 and coming up on June 8, 2008 we have a huge birthday bash...There will be contests, prizes, book excerpts and much much more.... I hope to see you there

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Book One in the Ancient Awakening seriesLong ago on the shore of the Sea of the Arabah five brothers were born…all immortal. To defend their destiny they must protect their eternal love.

Selene Farrell wasn't herself…or was she? Since arriving at Anthony Mager's remote castle to appraise ancient emeralds, she's been thrown back and forth in an erotic history lesson. In each memory, the man of the castle kissed, inflamed…bloody well fucked the life out of her. Her drenched panties couldn't take another orgasm — real or imagined.

However, she's also remembered her death. How is that possible? And will discovering the truth once again put her life in danger?

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

I'm doing the release day happy dance for Strange Sabbats today, my paranormal erotic romance novella with Loose Id. This one's hot, hot, hot, and I had a blast writing the three intertwining stories about lusty witches and their search for love.

Here's the blurb:

Aileen sacrificed her power for the sake of her marriage, only to see her husband die in a car crash. When childhood friend Jon appears on the scene for a Yule celebration, the sex is scorching. But jealousy gets in the way of true love, until Aileen's power returns--and so does Jon.

Aileen's brother, Bryan, still carries a torch for Jon, and fears revealing himself to humans. But when he includes his human friend Dallas in an erotic Beltane ritual, it's clear who holds the whip in that relationship.

Jon's Aunt Sylvie has the erotic relationship of a lifetime with Ty, a younger man--until she's offered a CEO position in New York. On the night of the summer harvest festival, Ty makes Sylvie's most wanton fantasy come true by inviting another woman into their bed.

For three witches related by blood and common circumstances, finding the men of their dreams is a supernatural ride through love, jealousy, kink with a touch of magic, and fierce, red hot witch sex.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Today on my author blog (Eden's Blog) I wrote about keeping my head above water, with the fast paced demands of writing full time and raising a family. So I figured a nice companion blog would address how we nurture ourselves when life gets crazy, and how authors nurture their characters.

As for me, I rely on daily yoga, herb tea, my gardens, and a good book at the end of my day. On particularly rough days, a nap works wonders. Chocolate helps. And of course there’s what my family refers to as “poodle therapy,” which consists of a small, scruffy dog curled up on my lap, giving me puppy-breath kisses. Staring at the full moon is guaranteed to calm me. Ditto for looking out over a lake, or listening to music. A sizzling erotic romance will take my mind off my problems for a while--sex too, for that matter.

For my characters, nurturing can be a bit more complicated, because as an author, I put them through more hell than I’ll ever go through. So those quiet moments are even more important, both for the characters, so they don’t give up hope, and for the readers, so my books don’t become too dark.

In the manuscript I just completed, Broken Pentacle, the sequel to my current release, Nature’s Pentacle, Sky and Alec have suffered more than any heroine and hero I’ve created to date. So the tender moments are even more important to them, since healing is a crucial part of the story.

Sometimes I offer my characters a tranquil moment, such as tender sex in a pond at sunrise. Or a sensual experience--a hot tub, or a gourmet meal in an abandoned tree fort. And since I write ménages, they get more than their share of affection and support, with multiple partners to soothe their hurts and quiet their fears. Touching is important for my characters. So is holding. Here’s a mini-excerpt from a tender moment between Sky and Alec in Broken Pentacle:

When she eased off of him, he wanted her back, but before he could complain she sat up and pulled his wrists until he eased his tired body upright, facing her. That accomplished, she wrapped her arms around his back. Answering her unspoken request, he embraced her and pulled her against his chest, her head nestled close and her hair splayed out in a black cloud across his lap. Together they rocked back and forth, each giving and receiving comfort in equal amounts.

Alone, it’s sweet. But it’s the context of the story, with the hell Sky and Alec have gone through, that adds the real emotional punch. That, and knowing they’ll have to face many more challenges before the end of the book.

So, what do you do to take care of yourself when life gets wild? And what are some of your favorite tender or soothing scenes from fiction or movies?

Friday, May 2, 2008

May is going to be a spectacular month for me. Yesterday Impulsive Pleasures released from Ellora's Cave. This story was originally with another publisher. So when Ellora's Cave picked up my naughty little Cougar, I was beyond thrilled.

Here is the blurb: Jamie's daughter is getting married and now Jamie has to endure a weekend with her ex-husband and his new wife, the home-wrecking trollop. Jamie can be nice…yeah right. The asshole doesn't deserve nice. However, Jamie's bitterness just might be sweetened when young and sexy best man Mark Bentley arrives for the rehearsal dinner. Oh Yum! He might prove to be just the distraction Jamie needs. And if the ex has a problem with it…good.

Only Mark isn't interested in a little flirtation with the mother of the bride. He'd like the cougar to scratch her nails down his back. Will she invite him into her bed…or will he have to fuck her on the floor?

Twisted Sex and Happenstance was also released yesterday from the Wilder Roses. And this one is a FREE READ. So if you'd like a taste of something naughty, get swept away with Twisted Sex and Happenstance available now. You can pick up your copy here. Just go through the checkout process and get your free download.

Blurb: When a twister rolls across Kansas, Mick and Katy grab their most cherished possession and flee to the storm cellar. In the face of danger will they discover what is truly important?

I remember once when I jumped in the car with a couple of girlfriends, took off the T tops, and took off for San Francisco. Drove all night, spent the day playing, then turned around and drove back home to Utah.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Ever have a favorite “hot!” book you kept by your bed, riddled with dog-eared pages marking the best parts? Some scenes, whatever the reason, seem to have the staying power to follow us through a lifetime.

My favorite sex scene of all time (no laughing, now!), is in Anne McCaffrey’s young adult book, Dragondrums. Part of her Harper Hall Trilogy, this book continues the saga of Menolly and Sebell, two harpers on the planet Pern, a land of soaring dragons and their enchanting miniatures, the fire lizards.

I read Dragondrums for the first time about a million years ago. My pre-teen heart had fallen for Sebell from the start, and through three books, I’d waited to see what would happen with him and Menolly. The big moment came as the two were stuck on a becalmed boat, with their miniature dragons mating above them.

I don’t think the entire sex scene could have been much longer than a paragraph, and in the way of young adult books, there was a lot more metaphor than detail. But it was the first sex scene I’d ever read, and I was hooked. Wow! Now this, this was the good stuff!

As my sister gleefully reminded me recently (in front of my husband and teen daughters), I carefully dog-eared the page of that fateful scene, and drew a cheerful little star next to the appropriate chapter number. My girls (who’ve read the book themselves) got a big kick out of that one. And my husband laughed even louder. Sisters can be a mixed blessing.

But my sister’s tongue-in-cheek comment that Dragondrums may be part of the reason I ended up writing erotic romance might not be far from the mark. Some scenes have staying power, and for me, that was one of them.

What about you? Any sex scenes, sweet or wild, that have followed you over the years? Any favorite bedtime books stashed away in your bedside table drawer? Maybe a juicy quote you want to share?

Thursday, April 3, 2008

If I worked at Burger King when this happened I think I would have peed my pants laughing!

#8: The Left-Handed Whopper

In 1998 Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."

Monday, March 31, 2008

Today is the last day to get your hands on my book Bid For Love.It's one hot book that should not be missed...

Savannah

Have you ever had the feeling somebody was watching you? What if it turned out somebody was, and that somebody was the man of your dreams? If Jeff spent less time daydreaming about me he might have found out sooner dreams are no substitute for the real thing--and so much sweeter..

Title - Bid for Love

Author - Savannah Chase

Release Date - February 01, 2008

Category - Erotica

Genre - Contemporary

Heat Level - Carnal

Word Count - 17,500

Excerpt

Jeff walked past the set of desks and headed to round the corner when he heard what sounded like soft moans coming from the next corner. His immediate reaction made him think maybe someone was in trouble but as he approached he heard what were surely not moans from someone who needed any assistance.

He proceeded with caution and couldn't believe what he finally saw. More like watching from afar. Curious, he peeked from the corner and thought his sight was deceiving him. There in front of him, against the wall, was Nico.

Her eyes were closed and her white blouse open, exposing the gorgeous curves of her body. The white bra she wore was slightly pulled down and it accentuated her voluptuous breasts. One of her hands roamed her body as the other tormented her nipples.

He knew he shouldn't stand there watching her but he couldn't help himself. She looked so ravishing. As her hand moved across her body he noticed something shiny. He had to do a double take when he realized what it was.

Nico had a nipple ring. He couldn't believe it. The beauty before his eyes surprised him, not just with her unexpected body jewelry but also by what he observed her do. Silently he stood watching her hand caress her body. Softly she bit her lower lip and another moan escaped her lips.

The hushed sound from her lips was torture to him. Blood rushed straight to his cock that hardened until it strained against his jeans. Tightly clenching his jaw he stifled a grunt from escaping his own mouth. The last thing he wanted was to get caught watching her.

He didn't know how much longer he could stand there and hold out. Every part of him wanted to run over to where she was, pin her against the wall and fuck her in every possible way until both of them were spent. He wanted his lips to replace her fingers on her nipples, his tongue, his mouth would do the job and so much more.

Jeff didn't leave as he should have, he stayed looking at her, taking in every part of herself that she revealed to him unknowingly.

Slowly her hands abandoned her nipples and crept lower towards the slits in her black skirt. Her eyes still closed, she gently tugged the skirt up to reveal one gorgeous pair of legs. Once her skirt was high enough, one hand slipped under the black material of her panties as the other returned to her lonely hard nipples that peeked out from her bra.

With every second passing him by, Jeff's heartbeat now beat out of control. His aching cock couldn't take it anymore. All he had to do was unzip his jeans and it could spring free for satisfaction by his own hand. Instead, Jeff tugged on his pants to try to stop the ache.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Yes only 16 days left till the big event. The last month has been filled with so much preparation and getting things done before I go down to the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention. For those of you who don't know about RT. It's a huge convention where romance and erotica authors come for workshops, book signings, parties and a good time. If you are planning on going down make sure to stop me if you see me. I'm going to floating around bringing you an insider look of the event.

If you want to keep up with the videos check out my official site and my yahoo loop. There will be tons of info there once the event starts.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Nature’s Pentacle, my first novel, is now available from Loose Id! And it comes with its very own, red hot warning label. Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, dominance, male/male sexual interaction, ménage (m/m/m/f), multiple partners, voyeurism.

In a way, that provides the reader with information nearly as important as the blurb: When witches use sexual energy in a rite to mend the shattered environment, the forces set in motion carry them into a vortex of loss, a sizzling ménage, and finally, to the love they never imagined they’d find.

When I’m shopping for erotic romance online, I frequently read the blurb to see if the story sounds interesting, and then eagerly evaluate the warning label to see what this particular literary erotic feast contains. Let’s face it; those warnings can be--titillating.

Of course, the sexual content warnings also serve to protect those who might be uncomfortable with certain elements. I’m telling my friends to read the warning carefully if they’re thinking about buying Nature's Pentacle, because it’s not “beginner level” erotic romance, and I don’t want to shock or upset anyone who’s not interested in paranormal erotic romance with a bit of an edge.

But for those of us who enjoy a little kink with our fiction, those “Publisher’s Notes” provide a cornucopia of information. So, readers, what do you look for in a warning label? Any favorite “kinks” in erotic romances? And what elements stretch beyond your personal tolerance range?

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Do you remember Bambi? I think my earliest recollection of “the birds and the bees” comes from that movie, when all the animals--even the skunk--become smitten with members of the opposite sex. And the next thing you know, there are a lot of baby animated critters running around.

What is it about spring that gets our sap flowing? The equinox isn’t until March 20th, but I’ve got to admit this writer’s feeling a bit frisky. The snow’s melting. The first green shoots are coming up close to the house. The birds are back. And suddenly I just can’t wait to write those hot scenes between Sky and Alec, the heroine and hero in my work in progress.

Somehow, with the warmer weather, my husband doesn’t seem as annoying as he did in late February, when cabin fever reached its unendurable peak in our house. In fact, I’m planning dates, spending more time with him, and he’s looking downright attractive to me. Spring’s on its way, and not a moment too soon!

So, does spring make you feel sexy? Eager to kick up your heels and sow some wild oats? What about impulsive? Anyone have wild spring break memories they want to share? Or are you more the “April is the Cruelest Month” sort? In any case, jump right in and let’s talk about spring.

Friday, March 7, 2008

I thought about calling this “To sex or not to sex”, but then I flashed on a scene in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You where the guidance counselor is doing her damnedest to get through appointments so that she can return to writing her romance novel. Struggling with her narrative and unable to find a suitable adjective to describe Reginald’s “member” she shouts out to her secretary, “What’s another word for engorged?”

Someone asked me recently why I include sex scenes in my novels. Michelle Lauren talked a bit about the mechanics of writing a good love scene and gave out some great tips. I thought I’d write a post addressing why I include love scenes and specifically, why I choose to include graphic love scenes in my books. Why mention Reginald’s “member” engorged or otherwise?
First I will say, for those that aren’t familiar with my work, I don’t claim to write erotica. I would say that I primarily write cross-genre paranormal romance/urban fantasy with erotic content. I love my sexy vamps and yummy werewolves. And, because I love them, I strive to make them as real to the reader as they are to me and…for the most part…real people in healthy relationships have sex.

Could I skip over the sex? Gloss over the sex? Have it occur behind a closed door or embed it in cleverly disguised prose that would make you wonder what the heck was going on? Sure. But why would I want to when I’m writing a story for adults about two adults that are falling in love, discovering one another, and will be making or have made a commitment to live “happily-ever-after together”?

Call me an old fashioned naughty girl, but I just can’t imagine my husband and I living happily-ever-after voluntarily skipping over the sex.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

I'll continue commanding this blog *hehehe* by reposting a blog I did over at the Witchy Chicks back in August. I hope you enjoy it!

Now, normally, I would consider myself open to any and all types of heroes pilling into my fictional bed, with or without the crackers. But I think I’ve come up with the perfect paranormal hero…the Elf hero. Here’s my top ten reasons why:

1. Let’s face it, Aragorn may have been ruggedly handsome, and WWF muscular, but the man looked like he stunk to high heaven. Legolas on the other hand, never had a spot of dirt on his tunic, a stray hair out of his ponytail, or a ring of sweat around his armpits. Hmm, not a tough call as to which one I’d like to curl up with beside the fire after a long day of traveling. ;-)

2. Now while a Were-hero might howl his pain at your death to the full moon, unlike an Elf hero, he’s not going to die over it. Elves have got to be the most romantically developed heroes I’ve ever read about. They practice monogamy religiously, and adultery is flat out unheard of. Their immortal life can only be brought to an end by two things, death in battle or a broken heart. Doesn’t that just make you sigh? (Sorry to say it, but Lestat the vampire would just shrug down at your dead corpse and move on – lol!) Oh, and as a mother of a pre-teen girl, I must say that the fact that Elf heroes consider premarital sex unthinkable, gives the lad major brownie points in my book.

3. They’re gorgeous. Okay, there…I said it. I’m being shallow. But come on, they are flat out beautiful. Athletic, yet aesthetic, lithe yet immensely strong. They possess the kind of beauty that inspires bards, and has poets taking up their quills to write about eternal love. Yup, they are that hot…and remember, I’m all about the hot men. *winks*

4. Elf heroes are ass-kickers and name takers. Whether they are wielding a bow and arrow, a sword or a brace of daggers, an Elfin warrior is last thing you want to see running at you on the battlefield, for it will literally be the last thing you see.

5. They’re noble. As if being gorgeous, athletic and romantic wasn’t enough, they have a conscious and they aren’t afraid to stand by their beliefs, even on pain of death.

6. As if you already couldn’t tell, they’re fiercely loyal and altruistic. Whether you are the heroine, or newfound friend, you have a friend for life when you make one with an Elf hero. He will stand beside you in battle, protect you if you fall, or rescue you if you get captured – and not for money or fame, but because it’s “the right thing to do.”

7. They have “Spidey-sense.” Too cool, huh? I’ve always thought it a great gift to cultivate a sense of one-ness with nature and the Elves have it down to a science, albeit a carefree one. Whether danger lurks around the bend, or our Elf hero’s ladylove finds herself kidnapped by the bad guys – he can use his senses to avert danger, rescue his lady, and save the day. Oh, and he always remembers where you set up camp if you get lost in the forest.

8. Now, this is a personal preference, but Elf heroes are completely hairless, except for the silken strands on their freakishly gorgeous heads. I don’t know about you, but there is just something about running your hands over hard, hot, smooth flesh that does it for me.

9. Next reason, the Elf hero is not sexist. {{gasp, shock}} Crazy, I know. But they believe a woman is just as capable of charging into a battle, as she is a bedroom, which makes them a rare gem when it comes to any man. Granted, that means there aren’t that many Alpha males floating about Elf-land, but I would prefer equality to being smashed over the head with a club and drug into a cave by my hair, any day.

10. Drumroll please…and the last reason that Elves make the best heroes…while I may not have just described the Elf hero you wrote about, read about, fantasize about, or saw in a movie oh, about three or four years ago…Hanarom Avidaul, the hero of my fantasy romance novel, “A Magical Encounter” has all of the characteristics listed above, and boy is he hot. *wriggling brows*

So, come on y'all. What do you think of Elf heroes? Or do you have personal favorites you'd like to share?

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

I recently read a book that had a heroine in it that was so full of quirks and oddities that she became more of a caricature than a woman I could relate to. Now I love character quirks and use them all the time in my writing. They make the character feel more real. And don't we all love quirky characters like Monk or House? But it’s easy to go too far, like that author of the book I just read.

Everyone has weird little fears or oddities that make them unique. Some of them can be debilitating and completely take over a person's life. Some of them are kind of funny. I had a great-aunt who had gotten into a car accident making a left hand turn. From then on she refused to make a left turn. It didn’t stop her from driving; she just planned out a route where she only took right turns to get to her destination. Her fear became a quirk and a funny one too. But if she was also afraid of heights, and water and puppets and telephones… well you get the picture.

So, where do we draw the line between interesting relatable characters and overly quirked caricatures? It’s a fine line to be sure and as individual as the stories we create. Often writers use a character’s fears and experiences to add conflict and to explain their motivation. But they can also weigh a down plot and keep a character from achieving their goal.

For this blog I Googled phobias and came across a list of phobias that I thought would be terribly hard to avoid- the fear of chins, thinking, ugliness, sunshine, words, colors, air and sitting, to name but a few.

And here are some real fears of things I love and could NOT do without -

Yikes! Wouldn’t it be awful to have those fears? Think of what you’d miss!

Now, I feel it’s only fair for me to reveal some of my own fears and personality quirks. So here they are, don’t think less of me:

-ALL spiders must die.
-Snakes, lizards, rats, and mice-cool.
-I must be cremated because I have a fear that I will wake up buried 6 ft under in my coffin (I saw a horror movie when I was a kid where this woman had a disease that made it appear that she died-stopped heart, no breathing-then she would recover and be alive again, it happened over and over until she woke up the final time in her coffin).*shiver*
-Also I don't like caves and could never be in a submarine.
-I love to swim but am afraid of drowning when I'm not in the water.
-I'm afraid of fire but heights are okay -I don't like people (especially men) with beady close together eyes and no lips- they creep me out
-Men with really small hands-totally gross
-The butter, cream cheese and mayonnaise must cover the entire slice of bread evenly all the way to the edge or I won't eat it
-babies with dirty ears-eew!
-The Dentist-I’d volunteer to go to the Gyno 10 times before I’d go to the Dentist

There you go. I sound like a made up overly quirked character, don't I?

What are your fears, personality quirks and oddities? What makes you special?

**Beth writes comtemporary romantic comedies. She just finished her first novel in November and is working on her 2nd. She's actively looking for an agent for her first book Hairassment. **
http://bethyarnall.wordpress.com/

Friday, February 22, 2008

On my author blog today, I tackle the topic of “The Morning After,” as it relates to Lena, the heroine in Nature’s Pentacle, my March 25 release with Loose Id. And that got me thinking about the hell we put our characters through, in the interest of fascinating fiction. Of course, when you write erotic romance, your characters have the opportunity to make choices that land them in some wildly compromising situations.

But how much is too much? Put a heroine in bed with The Wrong Man on her eventual road to finding a satisfying union with the hero, and most of us will probably give a little nod of sympathy. Ouch, she made a bad choice. We feel for her, and many of us have been in her shoes.

But what if The Wrong Man is her best friend’s boyfriend? Her sister’s fiancé? Her boss? Where do we as readers draw the line in sympathizing with the protagonist’s mistakes? My experience is that if there’s real growth following a large misstep, readers will step up to the challenge and keep on cheering for the flawed character. After all, perfect characters hardly make for scintillating reading.

In Nature’s Pentacle, my heroine, Lena, has to live with the fact that she’s participated in a forbidden sexual rite with thirteen other witches. Strangers. Hot and naked. Outdoors. All for a good cause, mind you. The arcane sexual power they raise heals the land following a horrible drought. But understandably, she’s a bit put out when someone leaks the witches’ identities to the press. Talk about aftermath that’s tough to live with.

Even more interesting, in my opinion, are the opportunities erotic romances give characters to make wild, over-the-top decisions without regretting them later. Sure, Lena regrets the fallout from that pesky arcane rite. But her ménage with hero Matt, and Matt’s best friend, Kenji? No regrets after that one.

So let’s hear from you, now. Any memorable morning after scenes you’d like to share, either from fiction or real life? How much does it take for a protagonist to alienate your sympathies? And what are some of your favorite “over the top” scenes that characters come out of whole and happy, with no regrets?

Thursday, February 14, 2008

First off, I want to wish you all a very sexy Valentine's Day (and night) filled with hot, steamy love and chocolate covered hotties. *winks*

Also, here's a quickie about my new Valentine's Day release! Don't forget to keep checking my website for contest information - I'll be giving away some goodies signed by Andrei Claude - the gorgeous model on my cover - as soon as they get back to me from Malta. ;-)

Blurb: A Courtesan catches the King’s eye and is offered the role of his new royal mistress. She arrives at court, never expecting to see her betrothed, a man she thought perished at sea ten years ago, not only alive, but still working for the King she’d come to court to seduce.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Keeping with yesterdays interesting blog on Rent - A- Dildo by Meagan I decided to chip in my interesting find, or shall I say a find that had been discovered by a friend of mine. Let me introduce you to the Internet Enabled Rabbit Dildo.

Yes, now you can have some fun with the click of a mouse. All for the price of $119.95

Now you and your lover can have a little bit of fun, even if he's on the other end of the city. All it takes is a click of a mouse. The bonus part is that once you plug in you can get some extra features to make the evening even more interesting.

From all the things available to get to spice up ones sex life I must say this is an interesting invention. I guess it's time to get with the computer world.

All you need is a serial port and the Windows 98 and your ready to let your lover blow your mind.

I wonder how popular this item is? A smart invention I might add.

What will they come up with next?

I wonder how many other interesting items there are out there. I guess the old fashion way of pleasure is being replaced by new items. What do you think?

Friday, February 8, 2008

First, I have to admit that after I read Eden’s insightful post about erotic romance, a thought-provoking blog topic came to mind and I truly had the best intention to post it. However, seeing how it’s Friday, I decided to share this nugget of internet insanity that recently found its way into my Inbox instead. (BTW - the person who sent it to me owes me a new wireless keyboard…I spit coffee all over mine this morning. You know who you are.)

Anyway, move over Blockbuster Total Access and Gamefly, because Rent-A-Dildo is you're new competition. Yup. You read that right. Someone has come up with Netflix for sex toys.

Now, I could paraphrase the Q&A off the RAD website, but I think it’s too mind-boggling not to read yourself:

How do you keep the toys clean and safe?
We've developed a patent-pending process for thoroughly cleaning each toy before it is sent out to a customer. Our extensive research and testing indicate that this will allow us to provide safe, hygienic sex toys without the fear of transmission of disease. Customers who are still concerned about safety can simply use a condom or other latex barrier with each toy.

What is the selection like?
We offer a full range of sex toys, from anal beads to rabbit vibrators to nipple clamps and cock rings. Not to mention dildos in every shape, size, color, and material. Each toy is tested for quality and performance before it is added to our collection.

How does the free shipping work? We ship each toy to you in a discreet, unmarked box. Inside the box you will find a return mailing label. When you are done with the toy, simply put it back in the original box and mail it back to us. You never have to pay for shipping!

What if I want to buy a toy?
If you enjoy a toy so much you want to keep it, you have two options. You can simply keep the toy you currently have, and we'll charge you a low replacement fee, or you can order a new one at our low discounted prices. Either way you enjoy a try-before-you-buy option unavailable elsewhere in the sex toy world.

Do you include batteries?
Many of our toys are battery-operated. When you order a toy, you can select the "batteries included option" for a small fee and you'll get the appropriate batteries to power your toy right in the box!

What about lube?
With each toy shipment we include a package of our own specially-formulated silicone-based lube. We encourage you to use this lube with the toys. Not only is it extremely high quality and pleasurable, it is safe for use with latex condoms and barriers and cleans easily.

How long can I keep each toy?
You can keep each toy for as long as you want. There are no late fees, only a monthly subscription fee: $19 for one toy out at a time, $29.99 for two toys, and $49.99 for the Golden Dildo plan with three toys out and priority to receive new, unused toys as rentals.

$50 a month for the Golden Dildo Plan and you’re still not guaranteed the new toys? Sheesh! And I’m sorry, “try before you buy,” is fine on things like cars and computer programs, but sex toys – not so much.

Now, I have no idea if this is real or not. Frankly, I am hoping and praying it’s fake, (or if it’s not, they change the name to rent-an-std.) Either way, this entire concept has completely derailed me today. My head is still trying to wrap around it. I mean, who would pay $20 a month to use a second-hand sex toy, even with their patented cleaning process? And who is cleaning them? Is that actually someone’s job?

“What do you do, Bob?”

"Oh, I’m a dildo washer at the local RAD distribution center.”

Ew! Just ew!

So, what do you all think? Ingenious money maker you wish you thought of or wrong on so many levels? Either way, I hope it made you smile this fine Friday.